Frank Zappa

soundtrack • composer • director

Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, electronic, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature...

Born: December 21, 1940 in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.

Died: December 4, 1993 (age 52)

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Known For

6.8

The Velvet Underground

Movies & TV Credits

144 total credits across film and television

Title	Rating	Job	Role(s)	Year
Frank Zappa: Cheaper Than Cheep Movie	—	Actor	Self (guitar, vocals)	2025
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music TV Special	7.9	Actor	Self (archive footage)	2025
Frank Zappa: Cheaper Than Cheep Movie	—	Sound	Songs	2025
Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention: Live at Whisky a Go Go 1968 Movie	—	Actor	—	2024
Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention: Live at Whisky a Go Go 1968 Movie	—	Sound	Music	2024
Cover Your Ears Movie	7.7	Actor	Self - Musician (archive footage)	2023
Steve Vai - His First 30 Years: The Documentary Movie	9.5	Actor	Self (archive footage)	2022
Rock this Town Movie	—	Actor	Self (archive footage)	2022
Larry Flynt for President Movie	7.5	Actor	Self (archive footage)	2021
The Art of Dissent Movie	7.1	Actor	Self - Subject (archive footage)	2021
The Velvet Underground Movie	7.4	Actor	Self (archive footage) (uncredited)	2021
Classic Albums: Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention - Freak Out! Movie	—	Actor	Self	2021
Kalvøyafestivalen - 50 år siden første riff Movie	6.8	Actor	Self (archive footage)	2021
Zappa Movie	7.6	Actor	Self (archive footage)	2020
Laurel Canyon TV Show	8.1	Actor	Self (archive footage)(2 Episodes)	2020
Zappa Movie	7.6	Sound	Music	2020
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice Movie	8.2	Actor	Self (archive footage)	2019
Echo in the Canyon Movie	7.2	Actor	Self (archive footage) (uncredited)	2019
Stupor Mundi: Book 3, The Most Dangerous Encounter Movie	—	Actor	Self (archive footage)	2019
Manson: Music From an Unsound Mind Movie	6.8	Actor	Self (archive footage)	2019
Take Your Pills Movie	6.1	Actor	Self (archive footage)	2018
Cosmic Debris Short Film	8.5	Actor	Himself (archive footage)	2018
Uncle Howard Movie	6.8	Actor	Self (archive footage)	2017
Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words Movie	7.4	Actor	Self (archive footage)	2016
Stupor Mundi: Livre 1, Rituel de décapitation du pape Movie	—	Actor	Self (archive footage)	2016
Stupor Mundi: Livre 2, Les Hommes qui mangèrent la montagne Movie	—	Actor	Self (archive footage)	2016
Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention - The Lost Broadcast: The Beat Club '68 Movie	—	Actor	Self	2016
Zapped: Frank Zappa par Frank Zappa Movie	7.6	Actor	Self - Subject (archive footage)	2016
Stupor Mundi: Livre 1, Rituel de décapitation du pape Movie	—	Sound	Music	2016
Frank Zappa & The Mothers: Roxy: The Movie Movie	8.4	Actor	Himself	2015
Feats First: The Life and Music of Lowell George Movie	7.5	Actor	Self (archive footage)	2015
Frank Zappa & The Mothers: Roxy: The Movie Movie	8.4	Directing	Director	2015
Frank Zappa - Summer '82: When Zappa Came to Sicily Movie	6.5	Actor	Himself (archive Footage)	2014
Led Zeppelin Played Here Movie	7.0	Actor	Self (archive footage)	2014
Super Duper Alice Cooper Movie	7.2	Actor	Self (archive footage)	2014
Cheepnis Movie	—	Actor	Himself	2014
Deep Purple: Made in Japan Movie	7.6	Actor	Himself (archive footage)	2014
Frank Zappa - Summer '82: When Zappa Came to Sicily Movie	6.5	Sound	Music	2014
Cheepnis Movie	—	Directing	Director	2014
A Token of His Extreme Movie	8.0	Actor	Himself	2013
A Token of His Extreme Movie	8.0	Editing	Editor	2013
From Straight to Bizarre Movie	7.1	Actor	Self	2012
1982. L'estate di Frank Short Film	—	Sound	Music	2012
Hart & Soul - The Hart Family Anthology Movie	7.4	Actor	Self (archive footage)	2010
Frank Zappa: The Freak Out List Movie	—	Actor	Himself	2010
Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention: In the 1960's Movie	—	Actor	Himself	2009
The Wrecking Crew Movie	7.5	Actor	Self (archive footage)	2008
Frank Zappa: The Broadcast Archives Movie	—	Actor	Self	2008
Frank Zappa: The Torture Never Stops Movie	—	Actor	Self	2008
Frank Zappa: Music In Review Movie	—	Actor	Self (archive footage)	2008
Frank Zappa - Live in Paris 1980 Movie	—	Actor	Self	2008
Frank Zappa: The Torture Never Stops Movie	—	Sound	Music	2008
Classic Albums: Frank Zappa - Apostrophe (') Over-Nite Sensation Movie	7.6	Actor	Self (archive footage)	2007
Frank Zappa: A Pioneer of the Future of Music Movie	—	Actor	—	2007
Frank Zappa: Roxy, 1973 Movie	—	Actor	—	2007
Frank Zappa: Roxy, 1973 Movie	—	Directing	Director	2007
Fuck Movie	6.8	Actor	Self (archive footage)	2006
EAV Rarities Movie	—	Actor	Self (archive footage)	2006
Derailroaded Movie	7.1	Actor	Self (archive footage)	2005
Frank Zappa: A Token of His Extreme Movie	—	Actor	Himself	2005
Girls and Boys: Sex and British Pop Limited Series	8.0	Actor	Self (archive footage)(4 Episodes)	2005
Frank Zappa - John, Dan And Me Movie	—	Actor	Himself	2004
Frank Zappa: Phase II - The Big Note Movie	7.9	Actor	Self (archive footage)	2002
Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The 1970s Movie	6.3	Actor	Self (archive footage)	2002
Band from Utopia: A Tribute to the Music of Frank Zappa Movie	—	Sound	Music	2002
Frank Zappa: The Present-Day Composer Refuses To Die Movie	—	Actor	Self (archive footage)	2000
The Male Swagger Movie	6.7	Actor	Guitarist (archive footage)	1999
The Artist Formerly Known As Captain Beefheart Movie	7.6	Actor	Himself (archive footage)	1997
Classic Albums TV Show	8.2	Actor	Self (archive footage)(2 Episodes)	1997
Hey, Hey We're the Monkees Movie	7.3	Actor	Mike Nesmith (archive footage)	1997
Välling och fotogen TV Special	—	Actor	Self (archive footage)	1997
An American Dissident: un tributo a Frank Zappa Movie	—	Actor	Self (archive footage)	1994
Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man TV Show	7.5	Crew	In Memory Of(1 Episode)	1994
The Revenge of the Dead Indians Movie	7.6	Actor	Himself	1993
Ein Leben als Extravaganza - Das Genie Frank Zappa Movie	—	Actor	Self	1993
Beasts Short Film	6.2	Sound	Music	1993
The Yellow Shark Movie	9.2	Actor	Self	1992
The Yellow Shark Movie	9.2	Sound	Music	1992
Pražákům, těm je hej Movie	6.8	Actor	Frank Zappa	1991
Frank Zappa: Peefeeyatko Movie	8.9	Actor	Self	1991
Your vote Movie	—	Actor	Self	1991
The Ren & Stimpy Show TV Show	7.6	Actor	The Pope (voice)(1 Episode)	1991
Tom Arnold: The Naked Truth TV Special	4.7	Actor	Self	1991
Frank Zappa: Peefeeyatko Movie	8.9	Production	Producer	1991
Cousteau: Alaska: Outrage at Valdez Movie	8.9	Sound	Music	1990
Služební cesta podporučíka Svěráka Movie	—	Actor	Self (archive footage)	1989
Decade Movie	5.8	Actor	Self	1989
The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels Movie	7.4	Actor	Self	1988
Funny Movie	7.3	Actor	Self	1988
Frank Zappa: Live in Barcelona Movie	—	Actor	—	1988
The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels Movie	7.4	Directing	Director	1988
The Amazing Mr. Bickford Movie	7.2	Actor	Self	1987
Uncle Meat Movie	6.6	Actor	Self / The Imaginary Director	1987
Video From Hell Movie	7.5	Actor	Self	1987
Video From Hell Movie	7.5	Directing	Director	1987
The Amazing Mr. Bickford Movie	7.2	Directing	Director	1987
Uncle Meat Movie	6.6	Directing	Director	1987
Frank Zappa: Does Humor Belong in Music? Movie	7.9	Actor	Self	1985
Night Flight with Frank Zappa, Porn Wars TV Special	—	Actor	Self	1985
Frank Zappa: Does Humor Belong in Music? Movie	7.9	Directing	Director	1985
Night Flight with Frank Zappa, Porn Wars TV Special	—	Directing	Director	1985
The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers Movie	7.5	Actor	Attila	1984
Miami Vice TV Show	7.5	Actor	Mario Fuente(1 Episode)	1984
Cocaine Blues Movie	6.7	Actor	Himself	1983
Frank Zappa: The Dub Room Special! Movie	7.2	Actor	Self	1982
Faerie Tale Theatre TV Show	8.1	Actor	Attilla(1 Episode)	1982
The Rolling Stones - Die ersten 20 Jahre Movie	—	Actor	Self	1982
Frank Zappa: The Dub Room Special! Movie	7.2	Directing	Director	1982
Frank Zappa: New York and Elsewhere Movie	8.8	Actor	Self	1980
Frank Zappa: Baby Snakes Movie	7.8	Actor	Self	1979
Frank Zappa: Baby Snakes Movie	7.8	Directing	Director	1979
Frank Zappa: We Don't Mess Around Movie	—	Actor	Self	1978
Saturday Night Live TV Show	7.8	Actor	Self - Host & Musical Guest(1 Episode)	1975
Saturday Night Live TV Show	7.8	Actor	Self - Musical Guest(1 Episode)	1975
Frank Zappa - Over-Nite Sensation Movie	—	Actor	—	1973
Frank Zappa: Opopoppa Stockholm, Sweden Movie	—	Actor	—	1973
Frank Zappa - Over-Nite Sensation Movie	—	Directing	Director	1973
Deep Purple: Made In Japan Movie	—	Actor	Self (archive footage)	1972
Yoko Ono: This Is Not Here Movie	6.1	Actor	Self	1972
200 Motels Movie	5.7	Actor	Member of Mothers of Invention (uncredited)	1971
Frank Zappa filmt 200 Motels Movie	—	Actor	Self	1971
Frank Zappa, John Lennon & Yoko Ono: At Fillmore East Movie	—	Actor	—	1971
Frank Zappa Movie	6.9	Actor	Self	1971
200 Motels Movie	5.7	Directing	Director	1971
The Manipulator Movie	3.7	Art	Props	1971
Frank Zappa Movie	6.9	Sound	Music	1971
Amougies (Music Power - European Music Revolution) Movie	6.9	Actor	Self	1970
Pink Floyd: Amougies Pop Festival Movie	—	Actor	—	1970
Burnt Weeny Sandwich Movie	—	Actor	Self	1969
Burnt Weeny Sandwich Movie	—	Sound	Music	1969
Head Movie	6.6	Actor	The Critic	1968
You Are What You Eat Movie	5.9	Actor	—	1968
All My Loving Movie	6.0	Actor	Self	1968
Sex in Today's World Short Film	6.9	Actor	Self	1968
Mondo Hollywood Movie	5.9	Actor	—	1967
Omnibus TV Show	6.9	Actor	Self(1 Episode)	1967
Good Evening — I'm Jonathan King TV Show	—	Actor	Himself(1 Episode)	1967
Inside Pop: The Rock Revolution Movie	8.4	Actor	Self(1 Episode)	1967
The Big T.N.T. Show Movie	7.4	Actor	Self (uncredited)	1965
The Monkees TV Show	7.3	Actor	—(1 Episode)	1965
Beat-Club TV Show	8.3	Actor	Self(1 Episode)	1965
Run Home Slow Movie	6.5	Sound	Original Music Composer	1965
Late Night Line-Up TV Show	6.9	Actor	Himself(1 Episode)	1964
The World's Greatest Sinner Movie	6.1	Sound	Original Music Composer	1962

Frank Zappa

Known For

Fuck

Head

Take Your Pills

The Velvet Underground

Movies & TV Credits